Several teams have engaged in talks for Hernangomez over the past month, league sources said. The 6-foot-11 Hernangomez, already a close friend of All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, entered the NBA a season ago with the Knicks and blossomed as the season progressed. He averaged 8.2 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.4 minutes in 72 games last season and was a member of the All-Rookie first team. Hernangomez has two years remaining on the four-year rookie contract he signed in 2016: a guaranteed $1.54 million in 2018-19 and a trigger date worth $1.7 million in 2019-20.

Another factor for consideration is that nobody on the Knicks is closer to Kristaps Porzingis than Willy Hernangomez. They were former teammates in Spain and always share neighboring lockers, whether at home or on the road. A trade could damage a relationship with Porzingis that was so fragile he decided to spend the summer isolated from the team. But the oncourt partnership between Porzingis and Hernangomez is already damaged.

League sources said Hernangomez still has decent trade value. Noah is untradeable for now because of his $72 million pact. O’Quinn is helping the team win with his grit and probably helping his trade value. One player the Bulls are potentially looking to trade is Nikola Mirotic, who has sparked Chicago’s 8-2 turnaround but is willing to agree to waive his no-trade clause after his ugly fight with teammate Bobby Portis.

According to sources, the Knicks still consider Hernangomez, 23, a part of the future. If this stretch of 16-of-20 games on the road tosses the Knicks out of the playoff picture, they certainly will step up their bid to trade O’Quinn at the deadline and open up playing time for the Spanish center who is Kristaps Porzingis’ best friend.